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Tag: sunscreen

Be kind to your skin
17Mar

Because your skin is the poster child of your face, you’ll want to preserve it as best you can. After all, who wants to sit with a face like a prune?

Beware the sun

First up, sun exposure is the number one culprit in causing photodamage. So once again, we stress the importance of using a sunscreen with SPF50 or higher. Don’t skimp on this! Follow the rules and you’ll be rewarded many times over in the years to come. Apart from preserving your skin, you’ll minimise the risk of skin cancer. In white populations skin cancer is directly related to UV exposure. So in addition to a high-factor sunscreen, wear long-sleeved clothing, a hat and stay in the shade between 11h00 and 15h00 on sunny days.

Extra help

In the dance of anti-ageing, it’s also a good idea to schedule regular chemical peels to slough off those dead skin cells. In fact, there are many people out there who wouldn’t dream of foregoing their regular chemical peel treatments – no matter what.

But we all need some extra help on our skincare journeys. That’s why Lasermed offers gold-standard treatments in IPL, microdermabrasion, Mini Frax 1550, Dermapen Advanced microneedling and skin tightening.

Some TLC

Be kind to your skin. Moisturise as soon as you step out of the bath or shower and look for ingredients such as glycerin, mineral oil, or hyaluronic acid in the product you choose. Those ingredients hold moisture in the skin.

Stick to mild cleansers that are free from strong fragrances and alcohol that can dry out skin. And in cold weather, turn on a humidifier to add moisture to the air.

Finally, the secret to looking beautiful comes from within. Love yourself!

preventing skin cancer
6Jun

Although the statistics for skin cancer prevalence are alarming, remember that preventing skin cancer starts with you.

There are three major types of skin cancer. And the most deadly, melanoma, kills about 20 people every day in the US, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Self-examination

Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common, followed by Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Both are predominantly caused by sun damage. Melanoma is also caused by the sun but can be familial too.

Although many skin cancers aren’t necessarily life threatening, they are tissue threatening. And the bad news about Melanoma is that it can metastasize to other areas of the body.

If you have rough lesions on your skin, or lesions that peel, bleed, or aren’t healing properly, see your dermatologist as soon as possible. In the case of Melanoma, check your moles. For self-examinations, apply the ABCDE method. A is for asymmetry; B is for irregular borders; C is for colour variation; D is for a diameter greater than 6 mm (the size of a pencil eraser); and E is for evolution (any change in size, shape or colour).

If you have any cause for concern, make an appointment with your dermatologist. Remember, dermatologists have more experience diagnosing skin cancer than any other doctor.

Your children

As stated in the first paragraph, preventing skin cancer starts with you. And teach your children well from an early age.

So, even though we’re in the throes of winter, don’t let them skip the daily SPF50+ sunscreen application. Also, insist that they wear long sleeves and pants, plus a wide-brimmed hat.

It’s best to keep infants out of the sun for the first six months. For unintended exposure, make sure they wear sun-protective clothing and use stroller sunshades. From the age of six months you can start applying sunscreen.

Look after yourself too

Don’t neglect your own sun-protection regimen. Seek shade between 10h00 and 16h00, wear sun-protective clothing and sunglasses with UV protection.

  • Use extra caution near water, snow and sand. These surfaces reflect the sun’s rays, thus increasing chances of sunburn.
  • Watch out for windows. While glass blocks UVB rays reasonably well, it allows UVA rays to pass through. When you’re in the car or near a window at home, remember to wear sunscreen and sun-protective clothing.
  • Don’t ever use tanning beds. UV light from tanning beds can cause skin cancer and premature skin ageing. If you absolutely must have a tan, rather use a self-tanning product. But never skip your sunscreen!

Be safe, be sure: preventing skin cancer starts with you

4May

Yes, sunscreen is important in winter too. Read on to understand why.

Firstly, many people think UVA/UVB rays aren’t a factor in winter. Wrong! Secondly, winter strips your skin of moisture and sunscreen helps to restore some moisture to your skin.

Another factor is that the ozone layer is thinnest in winter. This means that even though the sun doesn’t feel as hot, you are actually exposed to greater intensity UV rays.

The sun damages your skin

So, whether winter or summer, the sun’s rays definitely accelerate skin ageing, decreasing collagen and elastin production. But applying sunscreen religiously come rain or shine helps to keep skin looking more youthful.

And just because it’s cold doesn’t mean your sunscreen will last longer. Icy winds and low temperatures combine to weaken a sunscreen’s efficacy. That means you still have to reapply the sunblock every couple of hours to protect your skin.

Beware UVA rays

UVB rays (which are weaker in winter) are linked to skin damage such as sunburn, sun spots and various skin cancers. But UVA rays actually are even worse. Plus the strength of UVA rays is consistent throughout the year. Therefore, because they penetrate deeper, they cause more damage. Worse though, UVA may cause for melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Limit light from electronics

With winter meaning more time indoors, don’t overdo the use of computers, TVs and cell phone screens. These light sources, as well as some types of indoor lighting could add to skin damage. That’s why daily sunscreen application is all-important.

The take-out is that sunscreen is important in winter too. This is key to skin health and looking younger for longer. And remember, ‘broad-spectrum’ is the operative word. So read the labels before buying sunscreen. According to dermatologists, SPF50+ is the one to go for.

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